Can-labeling machine.



No. 874,012. PAIENTED DEO.1'7, 1907.

J. KAIN. CAN LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l2 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No.'874,012. PATENTED DEG. 17, 1907.

J. H.KAIN.

CAN LABELING MACHINE. Arrmonxon [mam xov.1 2,1aos.

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l ilm m2 NORRIS PETERS cm. wasumurom n. 9

PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

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J. H. KAIN.

CAN LABELING MACHINE. APPLIOTION FILED NOV. 12 1906.

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PATENTED 1130117, 1901' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN HARVEY KAIN, OF MILFORD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO DENIS A. REIDY, OFCINCINNATI,

OHIO.

CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed November 12,1906. Serial No. 3431147.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. KAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milford, in the county of Olermont and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Labeling Machines,of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved canlabeling machine.

The object of the invention is to produce a gravity actuated device,which shall be automatic in its operation and invariable in result.

Other objects of the invention relate to the mechanisms for applyingcement to the can, to feeding the labels uniformly, and to pasting theedges of the labels.

Other objects of the invention relate to features of adjustability,whereby a given machine may be used with various sizes and diameters ofcans and various sizes and thicknesses of labels.

Various other features of my invention are more fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure lis a side elevation of my improved can-labeling machine. Fig. 2is an enlarged section on line 7 y, Fig. 1, of the label feedingmechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the adjusting mechanismfor adjusting the feed for various thickness of labels. Fig. 4 is asection on line w, w, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 1),Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line M, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is anenlarged section on line w, :20, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a central verticalsection through the upper or body portion of my can labeler. Fig. 9 is adetail top plan view of the mechanism employed for actuating the vari-'ous feeds, paste and cement devices initial to a labeling operation.Fig. 10 is a section on line a, Fig. 9. Fig. 11'is a side-elevation ofthe label paste applying mechanism. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of thesame. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the'label paste applying brush.Fig. 14 is a detail side elevation of the label guide for properlymaintaining the labels in position on the table.

The device sets on legs 1, 2, secured to the frame 3. To the frontportion of the frame 3, (Fig. 5), is pivotally connected a cross piece5, having a vertical sleeve 6, in which sleeve is adjustably mounted astem 7, upon the upper end of which is secured the front rail support 8.

9 is the thumb screw for locking said vertical adjustment.

10 represents the rear end rail support, (see Fig. 6).

11 represents a screw, the opposite ends of which are journaled insupport 8.

12 represents a similar screw in support 1O.

13 represents the left hand can rail having screw threaded engagementwith screws 11, 12.

14 represents the right hand can rail through which pass non-screwthreaded ends of screws 11 and 12. These rails form an inclined can-wayor track.

15 represents sprocket wheels on the left hand outer ends of saidscrews. They are connected by sprocket chain to rotate in unison.

16 represents a hand wheel for rotating one of the screws,and throughthe sprocket chain and wheels it actuates the other screw, so adjustingrail 13, relative to rail 14, to properly gage the track for differentsizes of cans.

The stem may be set to adjust the pitch of the can rail incline, andthus determine the rate of travel of the can down the incline.

I will first describe the device for applying the glue or cement to thecan.

17 represents a shaft journaled in the rails 13, 14. Fixed to shaft 17between the rails are the fingers 18, having bifurcated ends 19, seeFigs. 8 & 9.

20 represents a glue pot supported by the rails under fingers 18.

21 represents another shaft journaled in the rails in rear of shaft 17.

22 represents glue applying fingers fixed to shaft .21, with their outerends under the bifurcated ends 19. Fingers 22 have front extensions 23,engaging under the sides of fingers 18.

The outer end of shaft 21 has a crank arm 24 to which is connected acoil spring 25 at one end, the opposite end of the spring being fastenedto an adjusting screw supported to one of the rails.

Fingers 18 normally extend at an angle to the incline of the rails andin position to be engaged by the downwardly rolling can so that theweight of the can presses the fingers down to position coincident withthe inclme, at the same time fingers 18 raise fingers 22 from the gluepot and apply glue to the portion of the can periphery exposed throughbifurcations 19. Fingers 18 form a track for the can at their front endscontinuous with the front end of the can-way incline and they preferablyextend in a horizontal plane, or else at such an angle to the inclinethat the inertia of the moving can will roll it over these fingers ortrack so that its travel down the incline is practically uninterrupted.

f Idwill now describe the label support and 'ee 26 represents the platensupporting a pile of labels. It is located below the can ceme'ntingdevices. The top label is substantially flush with the bottom of theincline so that the can will contact the top most label, and the labelwill attach itself to glued portions of the can. It is necessary to liftthe platen after each pasting operation so as to maintain a constantlevel of the labels. To accomplish this movement, I provide thefollowing devices, (see Figs. 1, 7 and 8).

27 represents a bracket adjustably secured to the slide-way 28 of rail14. The bracket depends below the incline and forms a support for theplaten feeding devices. The object of its lateral adjustability on rail14, is to regulate its distance relative to the can cementing deviceswhen different sizes of cans and labels are employed. J ournaled in thebottom extension 29 of bracket 27 are two screws 30, 31, the upper endsof which are screw threaded into two sleeves 32, 33, and platen 26, (seeFig. 7), is pivotally secured to the upper ends of said sleeves.

34, 35, represent sprocket wheels fixed to the lower ends of screws 30,31, they are connected by sprocket chain 36, (see Fig. 2).

37 represents a ratchet wheel fixed to the lower end of screw 30.

38 represents an oscillating arm fulcrumed on screw 30, pawl 39 beingpivoted to said arm and spring controlled so that the oscillation of thearm rotates the ratchet wheel in one direction and feeds the platen 26up wardly at a regular uniform speed depending on the thickness of thelabel. To oscillate arm 38, I provide the following devices :41represents a crank arm on the outer end of shaft 17, (see Fig. 1).

40 represents a link pivoted to arm 41 at one end and to link 42 at theother end. Link 42 is slidable in ears 43 on bracket 27.

44 represents a slotted bar formed on the bracket 27, the walls of theslot having the gage indications 45. In this slot is adjustably secureda fulcrum plate 46 through which is inserted a stud 47.

48 represents a lever passing through stud 47, the upper end of lever 48being pivoted to the link 42, while the lower end of said lever ispivoted to a link 49, which link is in turn pivoted to arm 38.

50 represents a collar engaging over the outer end of stud 47, see Fig.4, its upper and lower peripheral edges seating against the outside faceof lever 48 see Fig. 3.

51 represents a clamping nut.

When lever 48 oscillates the stud 47 jou1' nals in block 46. When nut 51is loosened the fulcrum block may be adjusted vertically in the slot ofbar 44 and then clamped to the lever 48, to secure the fulcrum in itsposition. By this means the length of the stroke of oscillating arm 38may be adjusted, and therefore the feed of the platen can be adjusted atwill to suit the thickness of labels employed, and to adapt it to allconditions.

It is obvious that a can rolling over fingers 18 will oscillate shaft17, and through the link, lever, pawl, ratchet and screw mech anismsabove described, impart an upward feed to the platen 26, so that eachcan actuates the cement applying and the label feeding devices in itstravel down the incline.

52 represents a coil spring connected to rail 14 and to arm 40 forretracting the mechanism.

By means of the two sets of gravity actuated mechanism just described,two streaks of cement may be applied to the can at places correspondingto the positions of the top and bottom edges of the labels.

The uppermost label will adhere to the can rolling over it. It is stillnecessary to glue together the opposite edges of the label which overlapwhen the label is wrapped around the can. These devices for gluing theoverlapping label edges are also automatically actuated by the gravityof the can, and they consist in the following instrumentalities 53represents a second glue or paste receptacle, (see Figs. 8, 11 & 12),located under the rails 13, 14, below the label support secured tobracket 27.

54 represents a shaft journaled in rear of pot 53. Fixed to said shaftis an outer crank arm 55, pivoted to the rear end of link 42, (see Fig.1), by which means rock shaft 54 is oscillated every time a can passesover and actuates fingers 18.

56 represents a pair of crank arms fixed to shaft 54 between the rails.

57 represents a cam bracket attached to and projected above the rearedge of the glue pot 53.

58 represents a pair of lever arms pivoted at their rear ends to arms56, their front ends being connected by a cross piece 59, from the loweredge of which projects a lip 60, of any suitable flexible material forapplying glue to the labels. Bracket 57 has cam slot or groove 61. Arms58 have a tierod 62 one end of which slides in said camway see Fig. 12.The labels 63 rest on the platen just in front of the glue receptacle53, and the uppermost label is pressed against the lip 64.

65 represents a finger pivoted to bracket 57, the front ends having theinturned lug 66, which lies in the front end of cam-way 61.

67 represents a spring tripping arm fixed to the pivoted end of finger65, and depending downwardly into position where they will be engaged bythe tripping crank arm 68, when shaft 54 is rocked.

69 represents a glue roller in pot 53, having a ratchet endfixedthereto.

71 represents a .pawl, the front end of which engages ratchet 70, therear end being pivoted to the crank arm 56.

The rear end of cam-way 61 is inclined u wardly and of a diameter to fitthe rod 62. The front end of said cam-way is large enough to allow theend of rod 62 to pass over and under the lug 66. When shaft 54 isrocked, the glue strip 60 will be raised from contact with roll 69, thecam mechanism will push the strip 60 forward and clear over the pile oflabels, the clearance being affected by the rod 62 riding over andbeyond lug 66 when lip 60 drops upon the edge of the upper label. Thecrank trip arm 68 will engage spring arm 67 and raise finger 65 liftingthe lug 66 in cam-way 61, allowing rod 62 to retract along the loweredge of cam-way 61 and thus rearwardly dragging the lip over the rearedge of the label. This retraction also retracts pawl 71 turning glueroll 69 intermittently in one direction of rotation.

The shaft 54 and the glue applying devices 59, 60, lie and operate underthe rails 13, 14, and are made wide enough to correspond with the Widestlabel to be used. When rail 13 is adjusted it moves over these devices.

It is desirable to have the fingers 18, and glue applying fingers,adjacent to the rails 13, and 14, owing to the end rims of the cam,extending the thickness of the metal beyond the periphery of the body ofthe can. To simultaneously move one set of fingers 18 and glue fingers22 with the moving rail 13, when the gage of the track can-way is to beadjusted, the following mechanism is employed. The shaft sleeves of bothfinger 18 and 22, adjacent to the rail 13, are provided with a groove72, (see Fig. 10).

73 represents a late fixed to the rail 13 'having an upwarcly projectingflange 74,

adapted to seat into the groove of the sleeves of said fingers. Thus asthe rail 13 is adjusted laterally it will likewise carry with it thefingers aforesaid.

In order to keep in alinement the labels upon the table, the followingmechanism is provided:

75 represents a guide rod fixed to the bracket 27, (see Fig. 7). One ormore of such guide rods may be employed as desired. 76 represents guiderods fixed to the glue receptacle support 77 at the rear end of thelabel platen, 78, 79, represent guide rods longitudinally adjustablymounted upon the rail 13, (see Figs. 7, 8 and 14). The adjustment of theguide rods 78, 79, is accomplished by the following mechanism- 80represents a rail fixed to rail 13 upon which the guide rod plate 81 isslidably mounted, said guide rods 78, 79, being fixed to said plate 81.82 represents a lock nut for securely locking the plate 81 in itsadjusted position. The adjustment of these guide rods is necessary whenan adjustment of the platen 26 is made. To provide for the adjustment ofrail 13, the platen has transverse slots 85, (see Fig. 7), through whichextends the rods 7 8, 79. The platen is wide enough to sup ort thewidest label to be used, and when rai 13 is adjusted, it moves over theleft hand edge of the platen.

After the label has been applied to the can it is desirable to have thecans travel over a smoothing table to take out such wrinkles as mayappear in a labeling operation and neatly bind the overlapping edges ofthe label. This, is accomplished by means of a pad 83 of felt or rubberor flexible material spanned between the rails 13 and 14 over which thecans after they have been labeled roll before leaving the can labelingmachine. The can-way deviates from the incline at 84, where it passesover the platen, so that the periphery of the can only contacts thefront edge of the u per label. Therefore the first label edge ad ieresto the can, and as the can progresses it lifts this attached edge abovethe level of the top of the labels, so that the further rolling of thecan over the platen, strips the upper label from the top of the pile,the can not resting on the pile at all. By this means it is insured thatthe can will only pick up one label at a time.

Thus Ihave produced a gravity actuated can-labeling machine. The canplaced on the inclined canway rolls down the same and actuates by itsown gravity, at proper relative intervals, the mechanisms which applyglue to the can, feed the labels, and paste the overlapping edges of thelabels. Therefore all the operator has to do is to place the cans on thetop of the inclined can-way, and the ensuing operations are entirelyautomatic;

The rate of travel of the can can be suitably regulated by adjusting thepitch of the incline. Also the gage of the can-way can be adjusted byshifting the movable rail 13, and this rail 13 can be shifted Withoutinter fering with the devices for gluing the can, with the platen forsupporting the labels, with the platen feed, or with the devices forgluing the labels. The length of feed of the platen at each operationmay also be adjusted to suit whatever thickness of labels are to beemployed. And all of these various adjustments by means of which themachine is made universal can be effected without interfering with theoperating parts.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a can labeling machine, aninclined can-way, can-gluing, label-feeding and labelgluing devices, andmeans actuated by the gravity of the can adapted to simultaneouslyoperate said devices, substantially as described.

2. In a can labeling machine, an inclined can-way, a main actuatingmember operated by the gravity of the can, can-gluing, labelfeeding andlabel-gluing devices, all connected to and operated by said mainactuating member, substantially as described.

3. In a can-labeling machine, a can-way, a

platen adapted to support a pile of labels with the upper label in thepath of can travel, a platen feed consisting of screw, pawl and ratchet,and lever mechanism, a member actuated by the moving can adapted toreciprocate said lever, and means for adjusting the fulcrum of theleverage so as to regulate the amount of feed, substantially asdescribed.

4. Ina can-labeling machine, an inclined can-way, a rock shaft having arocking member projected from the can-way and adapted to be rocked bythe rolling can, a glue device actuated thereby to apply glue to theperiphery of the can, a platen located below the gluing device andadapted to su port a pile of labels with the upper label in t 1e path ofcan travel, a platen feed, connections between said rock shaft andplaten feed adapted to raise the platen each time a can passes over therocking member, a label pasting device located in rear of the labels,and mechanism connected to and operated by the said rock shaft adaptedto apply glue to the rear edge of the uppermost label at each operation, substantially as described.

5. In a can-labeling machine, a can-way, a bracket adjustably attachedto said way, a platen, platen feed mechanism, and a gluing device inrear of the platen attached to said bracket, whereby said platen feedand gluing devices may be adjusted as a unit relative to the can-way andmeans actuated by the can for operating said feeding and gluing devices,substantially as described.

6. In a can-labeling machine, a pair of rails forming an inclinedcan-way, a pair of rocking fingers pivoted in the can-way and projectedat an angle therefrom, a glue retort, a pair of glue applying fingerspivoted to the can-way with their outer ends lying normally in theretort, means for retracting said members to normal position after thecan has passed, connections between said rocking fingers and gluingfingers, adapted to interpose the latter into the can-way when therocking fingers are actuated by the can, one of said rails beingadjustable relative to the other, one of the rocking fingers and oneofthe glue applying fingers being connected to and movable with theadjustable rail, substantially as described.

7. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined can-way, a pair of rockingfingers pivoted in the can-way and projected at an angle therefrom, theouter ends of said fingers being bifurcated, a pair of glue applyingfingers pivoted to the can-way, a glue retort under the can-way in whichthe outer ends of the gluing fingers lie, means for holding the saidrocking fingers normally at an angle to the canway, connections betweenthe rocking and gluing applying fingers, the said fingers being sodisposed that when a can depresses the rocking fingers into the plane ofthe incline, the gluing fingers will be presented to the can through thebifurcated ends of the rocking fingers, substantially as described.

8. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined can-way, a spring actuatedmember pivoted to the can-way and extended at an angle thereto, so as tobe depressed by the rolling can, devices actuated by the depressing ofsaid member adapted to apply glue to the periphery of the can, means forsupporting labels in the path of the moving can, and means for gluingthe edges of the labels actuated by the depressing of said member,substantially as described.

9. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined can-way, a spring controlledmember supported by the can-way in the path of can travel, and adaptedto be depressed by the can, a label supporting platen, a screw mechanismfor raising and lowering the platen, a pawl and ratchet mechanism foroperating the screw in one direction, a lever for oscillating the pawl,connections between said lever and depressing member, whereby the canactuates the platen feed, and means for shifting the fulcrum of saidlever so as to adjust the length of the platen feed, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined can-way, means for supportingthe labels in the path of the can, a gluing device supported in rear ofthe label support, said devices comprising a rotary glue roll, a glueapplying member normally contacting the same, and lying out of the pathof the can cam and lever mechanism adapted to raise the gluing deviceover the labels and in the path of the can travel to rub the glueapplying member against the rear edge of the top label, and adapted toretract the gluing member into its normal position and means actuated bythe can rolling down the incline, adapted to operate said glue applyingdevices, substantially as described.

I 11. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined canway, means forsupporting the labels in the path of the can, a gluing device supportedin rear of the label support, said devices comprising a rotary glueroll, a glue applying member normally contacting the same, cam and levermechanism adapted to rub the glue applying member against the rear edgeof the top label, means actuated by the can rolling down the inclineadapted to operate said glue applying devices, and means also actuatedby the can rolling down the incline, adapted to intermittently raise thelabel support, substantially as described.

12. In a can-labelin machine, a label support, a glue retort, a glueroll therein, a glue applying member normally contacting the roll,ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating the roll, cam and levermechanism adapted to lift the glue ap lying member from the roll, rub itover the abel and return it to the roll, connections between the saidlever mechanism and ratchet mechanism, whereby they operate together,and means actuated by the can adapted to operate the said glue applyingdevices, substantially as described.

13. In a can labeling machine, an inclined can-way, mechanism adapted toapply glue to the can, a label support adapted to successively presentlabels to the glued surface of the can, mechanism adapted tosuccessively paste the rear edges of the labels, and means actuated bythe downwardly rolling can adapted to simultaneously operate the can andlabel gluing devices and the label feeding devices, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a can labeling machine, an inclined can-way, a rocking memberadapted to be operated by the rolling can to apply glue thereto, a rockshaft adapted to be actuated by said rocking member, a label supportingplaten and feed mechanism therefor, and pasting mechanism adapted toglue the edges of the labels successively, connections between said rockshaft and the platen feed, and connections between the said rock shaftand the label pasting devices, whereby when the can deflects thedepressing member, the gluing, pasting and feeding mechanism aresimultaneously operated- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myhand.

JOHN HARVEY KAINQ

